"No." I lift Lily into my arms, settling her on my hip. She's getting too big for this, but I don't care. I need her close. I need to feel her. "We're leaving."
I turn and walk away. My legs shake but I don't stop. The playground exit is twenty feet away. Fifteen. Ten.
Jack's hand closes around my arm.
"Kristen, wait?—"
"Let go of me."
"We need to talk about custody. You can't just?—"
"Back off."
The voice comes from somewhere to my left.
Dante steps out from behind a park bench like he materialized from shadow. His eyes are fixed on Jack's hand wrapped around my bicep. His expression is completely blank, which somehow makes it worse.
Jack releases me like I've burned him. He actually stumbles back a step, and I watch his face cycle through confusion, recognition, and finally something uglier.
"Who the hell is this?" Jack looks between me and Dante, and then that smile returns—the mean one. The one I learned to dread. "Jesus, Kris. You work fast. Found yourself a new fool to fund your lifestyle already?"
The words hit like a slap.
I want to spit in his face. I want to scream that he's the one who stole from me, who took out loans in my name, who left me drowning in debt while he ran off with his girlfriend. I want to tell him exactly what kind of man he is.
Instead, I hold Lily tighter and say nothing.
Because Lily is watching. Lily is always watching.
Dante moves. Not aggressively, just shifts his weight, positioning himself between me and Jack.
"The lady said she's leaving." His voice is quiet. Pleasant, even. "I suggest you let her."
Jack's jaw works. I can see him calculating—the way he always does. Weighing his options. Deciding if this is a fight worth having.
Blondie tugs at his sleeve. "Jack, come on. Let's just go."
For a long moment, nobody moves.
Then Jack steps back, hands raised in mock surrender. "Fine. We'll finish this conversation later, Kris." His eyes cut to Dante. "When your bodyguard isn't around."
He turns and walks away, her tottering after him on those ridiculous heels.
I don't breathe until they disappear around the corner.
"Mommy?" Lily's small voice breaks through the ringing in my ears. "Why is Daddy mad?"
I press my lips to her hair.
"He's not mad, baby. He just... had to go."
Dante doesn't say anything. Just stands there, solid and silent, watching the spot where Jack vanished.
I should thank him. I should ask why he's here, how he knew, what the hell is going on.
Instead, I just hold my daughter and try to remember how to breathe.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
